SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
Page 1 TOP OF DOC
99–818PDF
2005
URGING THE EU TO ADD HEZBOLLAH TO ITS WIDE-RANGING LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS; AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN FOR THE MARCH 11, 2004 TERRORIST ATTACKS IN MADRID
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND
EMERGING THREATS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
H. Res. 101 and H. Res. 99
Page 2 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
MARCH 8, 2005
Serial No. 109–4
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey,
Vice Chairman
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado
RON PAUL, Texas
Page 3 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
DARRELL ISSA, California
JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
JERRY WELLER, Illinois
MIKE PENCE, Indiana
THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan
KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida
JOE WILSON, South Carolina
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina
CONNIE MACK, Florida
JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska
MICHAEL McCAUL, Texas
TED POE, Texas
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
Page 4 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
DIANE E. WATSON, California
ADAM SMITH, Washington
BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota
BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky
DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California
THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel
ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director
Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats
ELTON GALLEGLY, California, Chairman
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
PETER T. KING, New York, Vice Chairman
THADDEUS G. McCOTTER, Michigan
DARRELL ISSA, California
TED POE, Texas
Page 5 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky
RICHARD MEREU, Subcommittee Staff Director
JONATHAN KATZ, Democratic Professional Staff Member
PATRICK PRISCO, Professional Staff Member
BEVERLY HALLOCK, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
MARKUP OF
H. Res. 101, Urging the European Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging list of terrorist organizations
Amendment to H. Res. 101 offered by the Honorable Elton Gallegly, a Representative in Congress from the State of California, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats
H. Res. 99, Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Madrid that occurred one year ago, on March 11, 2004, and expressing deepest sympathy to the individuals injured in those attacks and to the people of the Kingdom of Spain
Page 6 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Amendment to H. Res. 99 offered by the Honorable Thaddeus G. McCotter, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan
LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING
The Honorable Elton Gallegly: Prepared statement on H. Res. 101
Prepared statement on H. Res. 99
The Honorable Robert Wexler, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida: Prepared statement on H. Res. 101
The Honorable Darrell Issa, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Prepared statement on H. Res. 101
URGING THE EU TO ADD HEZBOLLAH TO ITS WIDE-RANGING LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS; AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN FOR THE MARCH 11, 2004 TERRORIST ATTACKS IN MADRID
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats,
Committee on International Relations,
Page 7 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 5:05 p.m., in room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Elton Gallegly (Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. GALLEGLY. I call the Subcommittee to order. Pursuant to notice, I call up H. Res. 101 for purposes of markup and move its recommendation to the Full Committee. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
[H. Res. 101 follows:]
99818a.AAB
99818a.AAC
Page 8 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
99818a.AAD
99818a.AAE
99818a.AAF
Mr. GALLEGLY. If there are any opening statements, we can submit them into the record. I have an opening statement, but I will simply make it a part of the record in view of the commitments that Members have.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Gallegly follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ELTON GALLEGLY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND EMERGING THREATS
H. RES. 101
Today, the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats is marking up two resolutions. The first item on the agenda is H. Res. 101, a resolution which urges the European Union to add Hezbollah to its terrorist list. I strongly support this measure and I would like to commend Rep. Jim Saxton, for introducing H.Res. 101, and the ranking member of this Subcommittee, Representative Wexler, for his hard work on this issue and ensuring that we had enough cosponsors to bring this resolution up for consideration.
Page 9 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
As I believe everyone in this room knows, Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based extremist organization that has a network of cells located throughout the world. Its primary sources of political, financial and organizational support stem from Iran and Syria. According to the most recent State Department ''Patterns of Global Terrorism Report,'' Hezbollah is dedicated to the elimination of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic theocracy in Lebanon. Hezbollah is also a strong supporter of the Syrian presence in that country—a position clearly at odds with both the desires of the international community and the Lebanese people.
Hezbollah has been known or suspected to have been involved in numerous terrorist attacks against Americans, including the suicide truck bombing of the United States Embassy and Marine Barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the Embassy annex in Beirut in 1984. Three members of Hezbollah are on the FBI's list of the 22 most wanted persons for the hijacking of a TWA flight in which an American Navy diver was killed. Elements of the terrorist organization have also been involved in the kidnapping of Americans and other Westerners.
In past years, Hezbollah has increasingly supported groups that have already been designated by the EU as terrorist organizations. It defies logic that the EU would classify these other groups as terrorist organizations and not include Hezbollah, a group that is among the most lethal terrorist organizations in the world.
Following a statement by Congressman Wexler, I will be offering an amendment, which is based on comments I received from the Department of State, as well as some changes requested by Mr. Wexler.
Page 10 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
However, at this time, I would like to turn to Congressman Wexler for a statement.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Wexler follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT WEXLER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA
H. RES. 101: URGING THE EU TO ADD HEZBOLLAH TO ITS TERRORIST LIST
Mr. Chairman,
I want to thank you for your support of this resolution, urging the EU to add Hezbollah to its terrorist list. For 23 years, Hezbollah has led a global campaign of terror aided by Syria and Iran that has targeted American, Israeli, European, South American, Asian and Arab citizens alike. Dubbed the ''A-team of terror'' by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the global security threat posed by Hezbollah nears—if not surpasses—that of Al Qaeda.
Since its inception in 1982, Hezbollah has carried out the bombings of the American Embassy in Lebanon, the Israeli Embassy in Argentina and the US and French Marine bases in Beirut, among others. Hezbollah still has a formidable presence in Lebanon, as demonstrated by today's rally organized by Hezbollah in Beirut, where nearly half a million people gathered to express their support for Syria, while chanting ''death to America; death to Israel'' and waving pictures of Syrian President Bashar Assad. This position openly defies international demands, as well as that of an American and French-initiated UN Security Council Resolution, which calls for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Page 11 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
In past years, Hezbollah has increasingly supported groups designated by the EU as terrorist organizations, including the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Moreover, EU Member States such as France and Germany have taken recent legal action against Hezbollah, including the German deportation of a Hezbollah agent and the French banning of Hezbollah television, Al Manar. The EU has also included several officials affiliated with Hezbollah on its terrorist list, thereby precluding the transfer of funds to these individuals from EU Member States. It defies logic that the EU would take such action and, at the same time, omit Hezbollah from its terrorist list.
In fact, an EU representative recently affirmed that Palestinian officials are increasingly concerned about the enhanced presence of Hezbollah in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians fear that Hezbollah will undermine a negotiated ceasefire and target Abu Mazen, who has faced severe criticism from Hezbollah, in addition to assassination threats. A Palestinian official recently cited an intercepted email and bank transaction indicating that Hezbollah has increased its payments to Palestinian terrorists from $20,000 to $100,000 per attack.
In past years, EU Member states have sought to distinguish between the political and military wings of Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah officials themselves do not believe this distinction can be made—proving the futility of such claims. This was reiterated by Mohammad Raad, one of Hezbollah's representatives in the Lebanese Parliament, who stated that ''Hezbollah is a military resistance party, and it is our task to fight the occupation of our land . . . There is no separation between politics and resistance.''
Page 12 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Hezbollah does not discriminate in its targeting of innocent civilians, and the EU should not discriminate in its classification of terror. As such, the European Union must join the ranks of America, Canada, Israel and Australia in imposing a financial block on Hezbollah and adding them to its terrorist list. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Issa follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE DARRELL ISSA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
H. RES. 101
Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this markup today on H Res. 101. I would also like to thank Chairman Royce for his leadership in marking up this important piece of legislation last week. Finally I would like to thank Rep. Jim Saxton, Rep. Robert Wexler and Rep. Eliot Engel
As the Lebanese people move in the direction of freedom and democracy, Hezbollah, with the backing of the Syrian government continues to be a cancer upon the state of Lebanon and a destabilizing force in the region.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and their refusal to disarm should be a major concern to Europe and Lebanon.
Hezbollah has committed crimes against both the United States and Europe. Their involvement in the 1983 suicide bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American Marines is widely known and well documented; as are their ties to the Iranian government.
Page 13 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
In the months after September 11th I traveled to both Syria and Lebanon called both countries to renounce violence and disarm Hezbollah.
The leadership of Hezbollah has refused to accept the fact that peace in the region will only come through cooperation, not confrontation, with its neighbors.
In October of 2001 the U.S. State Department took the prudent step of adding Hezbollah to its terrorist list. It is now time for the European Union to follow suit.
The EU has been a great ally to the United States in the War on Terror. They must not overlook this dangerous organization that continues to work to undermine safety and security in the Middle East.
Thank you Mr. Chairman
Mr. GALLEGLY. I have an amendment at the desk. Will the clerk please designate?
Ms. HALLOCK. An amendment to H. Res. 101 offered by Mr. Gallegly of California.
[The amendment referred to follows:]
Page 14 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
99818b.AAB
Mr. GALLEGLY. Without objection, the amendment is considered as read.
The amendment I am offering is based on comments I received on the resolution from the State Department and some changes communicated to me by my friend, Congressman Robert Wexler. The amendment is designed to clarify some of the language contained in H. Res. 101. However, the amendment does not change the substance of the legislation or the message it is trying to convey, and I urge its passage.
Anyone seek to be recognized on the amendment? If not, the question occurs on the amendment. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The amendment is agreed to.
The question occurs on the motion to report H. Res. 101 favorably, as amended. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The motion is approved, and the resolution is reported favorably.
The staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.
Pursuant to notice, I call up H. Res. 99 for purposes of markup and move its recommendation to the Full Committee. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
Page 15 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
[H. Res. 99 follows:]
99818c.AAB
99818c.AAC
99818c.AAD
[The prepared statement of Mr. Gallegly follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ELTON GALLEGLY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND EMERGING THREATS
H. RES. 99
Page 16 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
I would like express my strong support for H.Res. 99 and thank Mr. McCotter for introducing this legislation and his work on this issue.
This resolution sends an important message of to the Spanish people that members of Congress and the American people have not forgotten the tragic terrorist attack of March 11, 2004. This attack, which was the work of an al Qaeda affiliated terrorist group, was the most deadly terrorist attack ever on Spanish soil and the worst terrorist attack in Europe since the bombing of Pan Am 103 in 1988.
It is my understanding that Congressman McCotter along with Congresswoman Berkley will be traveling to Spain on Thursday to participate in events in remembrance of the March 11, 2004 terrorist attack. I commend both members for making this trip and for representing the goodwill of the entire House of Representatives before the Spanish people.
Again, thank you for your hard work on this issue and I strongly urge the passage of this resolution.
Mr. GALLEGLY. At this point, I do recognize the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. McCotter, the author of the bill.
Mr. MCCOTTER. Mr. Chairman, at this point, because I have an amendment, I will forego an opening statement, except I would be remiss if I did not thank you very much for bringing this to the Subcommittee.
Mr. GALLEGLY. The gentleman at this point is recognized for the purposes of offering his amendment.
Page 17 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Mr. MCCOTTER. Yes. I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that it be considered as read.
Mr. GALLEGLY. The clerk will designate the amendment. Without objection, it will be considered as read.
Ms. HALLOCK. An amendment to H. Res. 99 offered by Mr. McCotter of Michigan.
[The amendment referred to follows:]
99818d.AAB
Mr. GALLEGLY. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes to speak on his amendment.
Mr. MCCOTTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Succinctly, there are two changes the amendment will do to the underlying resolution. The first is it will make sure that it magnifies the fact that the March 11th attacks were perpetrated by al-Qaeda, not by ETA, which is referenced later in the resolution. Secondly, it also adds a paragraph recognizing the Club de Madrid, which is hosting an international summit on democracy, terrorism, and security under the High Patronage of His Majesty, the King of Spain.
Page 18 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Mr. GALLEGLY. I support Mr. McCotter's amendment, which I believe improves the underlying legislation.
Is there any other Member on either side that has a comment to make relative to the amendment? Hearing no requests, at this point the question occurs on the amendment. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it, and the amendment is passed.
The question occurs on the motion to report H. Res. 99 favorably, as amended. All in favor, say aye. Any opposed? The motion is carried, and the resolution will be reported favorably.
Staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.
With that, the Committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 5:12 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]